In Asia, prevailing weak downstream demand curbed buying interest for diisononyl phthalate (DINP), dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP), especially in China.
Volatility in the feedstock sectors have resulted in the majority of market participants retreating to the sidelines.
The spread between DINP and DOTP has narrowed to around $0-20/tonne for the first quarter of 2013, resulting in producers facing squeezed margins.
Unless demand in the downstream construction, cabling, flooring and automotive sectors strenghten, plasticizers prices are expected to be weighed down by weak buying interest and high inventories.
Updated to mid-May 2013